Bourbon

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength 2014

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Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels
2014 Release
59.65% ABV
$169
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Louisville Distilling Company is proud to announce the limited-edition release of the critically acclaimed Angel’s Envy Cask Strength. The Expression will be available this October in select markets including: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OR, TN, TX, WA. Due to the scarcity of barrels necessary for the enhanced finishing process, Angel’s Envy will only release 6,500 bottles. Previous releases quickly sold out.

Named “best spirit in the world” by Paul Pacult in the June 2013 edition of Spirit Journal, Cask Strength shared top honors with a 25-year-old single malt whisky that sold for nearly twice the price. In his review, Pacult awarded the brand five stars – his highest recommendation – noting, “this masterpiece deserves a sixth rating star.”

As with Angel’s Envy, the super-premium bourbon of uncompromising character and quality, Cask Strength is aged to the perfect level of richness and maturity (up to seven years) in the few American white oak barrels that made the cut. The barrels are then blended into a single batch and finished in hand-selected port casks.

“Cask Strength is rare and rich bourbon worth savoring,” said Wes Henderson, Chief Innovation Officer, Angel’s Envy. “The first couple of releases sold out quickly so we’re thrilled to make it even more widely available this year.”

The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle, which may vary by market, is $169. A remarkably complex bourbon at 119.3-proof and 59.65% alcohol by volume, Cask Strength is best enjoyed with just a bit of water to release the flavor nuances.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Tasting Notes
Color: Deep Amber red tint, coppery
Nose: Toffee, Butterscotch, Toasted Oak, Cherries, Ripe Peach, Berry Jam, Vanilla, notes of banana
Palate: Lots of port notes: Cherries, Oak, raisins. Still get a beautiful bourbon feel with Vanilla, Honey, a butter velvet feel, a little bit of clove spice, honeysuckle
Finish/Feel: Glides around your palate, lingers for a few moments, but not too long as to keep you from another sip. Add some water and it opens nicely. Warm and sweet, but still tingly.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Old leather furniture (the comfortable stuff!); orange marmalade on toast, caramel crème candy and tobacco. The port finish is just beneath all of this, and holds it together beautifully.
Palate: A rich, chewy mouthfeel of dark candied fruit with cinnamon, caramel and toffee; a dry sweetness.
Finish: Shorter than I would like, but well organized with a soft landing that leaves me looking to refill the glass.
Comments: This is the kind of whiskey I could pour a dram of and just sniff the glass for a few hours; a really intriguing nose. Despite being nearly 120 proof, I find this quite drinkable neat. With a bit of water, you don’t lose the balance between the port pipe influence and the bourbon, and the mouthfeel nicely transitioned from chewy to creamy. The port shines through more for me on this cask strength offering, much more than it did on the initial release. To be candid, I was not a big fan of the first release, but I think this is a beautifully crafted whiskey.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is a little heavier on the port that what comes across in the regular bottling. Hints of vanilla but there is also a treacly syrup note that reminds me more of single scotch than a bourbon.
Palate: The mouth feel is so rich and creamy that it’s almost like bourbon and port syrup. Citrus, tree pitch, and a fair dose of vanilla.
Finish: Long, slow, and surprisingly smooth for a cask strength bourbon.
Comments: Very nice. The price makes this one hard to swallow but it’s a delicious bourbon none the less.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

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Hudson Four Grain Bourbon

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Hudson Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV
$45 to $50 (375 mL bottle)
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Hudson Four Grain Bourbon whiskey brings together the distinct characteristics of corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. Each batch starts with 800 pounds of grain which is ground at the distillery, cooked and fermented, then distilled twice. It is aged in our signature small barrels. Our Four Grain Bourbon is a rich full-flavored spirit. The grains are perfectly suited one to the others so that the end result balances the soft richness of corn, the sharp peppery notes of rye, all the smooth subtlety of wheat and the sweetness of malted barley. Each bottle is hand numbered.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Cornbread; more like a corn whiskey than a typical bourbon; bit of burnt sugar and a hint of orange zest
Palate: Creamy corn syrup that starts off soft, and sharpens with a bit of spice at the end. This dram doesn’t attempt to mask its youthful age, but rather wears it proudly. Slight cinnamon undertone.
Finish: Relatively short but smooth, with a little spice.
Comments: I wish I had the Hudson Baby Bourbon on hand for a direct comparison, as this reminds me a lot of that, which is a 100% corn mashbill. The corn shines more easily with less age, leaving the wheat, rye and barely to play minor supporting roles. While an interesting whiskey, the price point of around $50 for a 375 mL is hard to fork over – unless you really like young corn whiskey.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Exposure America for providing us with a review sample.

Editorial Note: I would like to take a minute to welcome Gary to the Whisk(e)y Apostle team! Long time readers will know that Whisk(e)y Apostle was never meant to be a one man show. I think diversity of opinion is at the core of what we are trying to proselytize. I’ve had a few people review with me over the years after Matt couldn’t do it any longer. Now though, I’ve found a great guy with a fantastic palate who geeks out about whiskey (mostly bourbon and rye) as much a me. Since we were sent a sample of this bourbon and Matt and I already reviewed it a while ago I thought it would be a great first review for Gary. Please welcome him to the team!

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Hudson Baby Bourbon

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Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV
$40 to $45 (375ml bottle)
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
HUDSON BABY BOURBON is the first bourbon whiskey to be distilled in New York. This single grain bourbon is made from 100% New York corn and aged in our special small American Oak barrels. This unique aging process produces a mildly sweet, smooth spirit with hints of vanilla and caramel. The BABY is Tuthilltown’s first whiskey and the first legal pot-distilled whiskey made in New York since prohibition. BABY BOURBON is a perfect introduction to aged whiskey spirits. It is mild and friendly, bright to the tongue and warming all the way down. Each bottle is hand waxed and numbered. It is a true American classic. The BABY is our most sought after spirit. Make sure you alert your fine spirits dealer today to ensure your supply.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The corn whiskey is heavy on the nose. There’s just a hint of vanilla but not much. No doubt from the short(3 months) time in the barrel. Oddly, there is something here that reminds me of Woodford Reserve.
Palate: Sweet cornbread drizzled with cinnamon icing.
Finish: It is a little hot on the finish but smoother than I expected.
Comments: I’m not the biggest fan of the craft whiskey movement. I find most of it over priced and underwhelming. However, this one is hiting some interesting flavor spots for me. It’s very tasty and approachable. It’s still a little hard to swallow at $40 to $50 for half bottle but very tasty.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Jaimie and Exposure America for providing us with a review sample. They were also kind enough send over a cocktails suggestion too!

Blackberry Baby Bourbon Sour
2 oz. Hudson Baby Bourbon
3-4 Fresh blackberries
0.75 oz. Simple syrup
0.75 oz. Lemon juice

Add to pint mixing glass: 3-4 fresh blackberries + 0.75 oz. simple syrup, muddle well. Add 0.75 oz. lemon juice, 2 oz. Baby Bourbon, and ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with blackberry folded into lemon twist on pike.

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Four Roses Single Barrel (OBSV)

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Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection
50.0%
$35 to $40
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
The Private Barrel Program is offered to Four Roses retailers only. But as a discerning Bourbon drinker, you also get to enjoy the benefits of our Four Roses Private Barrel Program at your local participating retailer.

60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley mashbill with a yeast strain imparting delicate fruity flavor.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Burnt caramel, vanilla, and fresh berries.
Palate: A nice rye spiciness of black and red pepper. A vanilla nougat followed by toffee candies.
Finish: An oak finish of extreme length with hints of pepper, cinnamon, and mint.
Comments: This specific bottle was a nine year old store selection for Total Wine.
Rating: Stands Out

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Four Roses OESO

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Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength OESO Private Selection
57.0%
$55 to $70
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
The Private Barrel Program is offered to Four Roses retailers only. But as a discerning Bourbon drinker, you also get to enjoy the benefits of our Four Roses Private Barrel Program at your local participating retailer.

From time to time, a limited number of exceptionally smooth and complex barrels from any or all of our 10 Bourbon recipes present themselves to our Master Distiller. Each barrel is aged between 8 and 10 years. We then invite our retailers to a private tasting and selection of their favorite barrels. Once chosen, each selection is bottled and private labeled as a non-chill filtered Single Barrel at Barrel Strength in limited quantities of approximately 200-230 bottles.

75% Corn, 20% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley mashbill with yeast strain imparting robust fruity flavor.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy caramel, orange marmalade, crushed mint, vanilla, cinnamon, licorice and a slightly meaty back note.
Palate: Chewy cherries jubilee, Mint Juleps, vanilla greek yogurt and bit of char.
Finish: More crushed mint with a mild oakiness and slow fade of barrel char.
Comments: This specific bottle was a Georgia Bourbon Society selection.
Rating: Must Try

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